Cristiano Ronaldo seems to have shifted his focus away from chasing individual accolades, particularly the coveted Ballon d'Or, as he suggests that his rivalry with Lionel Messi no longer fuels him.

The two footballing icons have dominated the prestigious award since 2008, with only Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022 breaking their reign.

The Ronaldo vs Messi Ballon d'Or rivalry

Ronaldo has lifted the Ballon d'Or five times but hasn't been nominated in the last two editions.

In contrast, Messi secured a record-extending eighth title after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.

Since leaving Manchester United for Al-Nassr in early 2023, Cristiano has enjoyed a resurgence in Saudi Arabia.

The Portuguese phenom has netted a plethora of goals, including setting a new record as the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer, with 35 goals in a single season.

His prolific form continued in the AFC Champions League, where he scored in Al-Nassr's 2-1 victory over Al-Rayyan, as noted by ESPN.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Al Rayyan (H) pic.twitter.com/FHClJpdt68

— Soham. (@ronaldogoatsfc) September 30, 2024

However, perhaps the most remarkable milestone of his recent career came last month when he scored his 900th goal for club and country while representing Portugal.

Despite this remarkable feat, Cristiano was once again absent from the Ballon d'Or nomination list, a trophy he last claimed in 2017 during his spell with Real Madrid.

Ronaldo 'admits' defeat to Messi

With a professional career spanning 22 years, beginning at Sporting Lisbon and passing through elite clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, Ronaldo seems to have reached a point where individual glory is secondary to collective success.

Speaking after his side's win over Al-Rayyan, the Portugal captain admitted he no longer prioritizes being labelled the best player.

"I don’t care anymore if I am the best or not," Ronaldo confessed at a press conference, as quoted by talkSPORT.

"What matters now is helping the team win. Scoring goals is nice, but for me, victories are better."